When asked for three words to describe this year’s Ride The Rockies, tour director Chandler Smith had four: adventure, epic, strenuous, and rewarding.

Adventure, yes. The first day’s itinerary included a hail storm, a snow storm, almost 10,000 vertical feet of climbing, and 89 miles (for the few who biked all the way to Winter Park), 75 miles (for those who made it to the top of Berthoud Pass) or 62 miles (for those stopped at Empire). Smith said it was among the tour’s most-difficult days ever.

As the cyclists of Ride The Rockies — 2,000 in all — crossed the finish line Friday under the iconic arch in downtown Golden on the sixth and final day of the tour of 450-plus miles, some raised their hands. Others raised their bicycles. Some looked for the nearest hug.

Merely training for the annual tour through Colorado’s Rocky Mountains is alone an achievement. Overcoming the physical, mental and emotional challenges to finish the event can be a life-changer, according to RTR tour director Chandler Smith.

But no cyclist can do it alone. And nowhere is that more evident than at the RTR aid stations, where a cadre of volunteers, vendors and technicians combine to provide oases every 15 or so miles along the course.

In 2012, I asked a former colleague whether he was interested in running the Chicago Marathon. Two weeks later, he asked if I was interested in Ride the Rockies. I got a road bike, got on the tour, and have yet to regret it. This will be my third RTR.

Daniel Petty is the digital director of sports for The Denver Post. He competed in track and cross country all four years inc college, but that was six years ago. Now, he's doing Ride the Rockies for the first time.